I had to share this morning’s beautiful sunrise. The frost covered ground just made everything feel so crisp and cold. Of course, I was standing bare footed on my front porch when I took the picture.
Until next time…peace
Morning Sunrise
November Photo Challenge-Day 3-Red
Today, November 3, 2015, photo challenge is the color red. Personally, I love to see Red in nature especially on birds and flowers.
But I also love old red barns. Can you imagine the history with some of them?
30 Days of Thanks-Day 3
“Come forth into the light of things,
let nature be your teacher.”
William Wordsworth
Today, November 3, 2015, is the third day in the 30 Days of Thanks challenge. I am thankful for all the wildlife and nature that surrounds me on a daily basis. I live in a rural area which I love. The view from my front porch amazes me on a daily basis.
If a stuck with my writing, sometimes just stepping outside to view the birds at my feeding or notice the clouds in the sky helps me focus on the words. I absolutely love photographing wildlife and nature. I just find viewing animals, insects, the changing weather, sunrises, and sunsets to be inspiring.
Even the Raccoons make me smile even when they are being pesky on my porch.
I find watching the birds to be hilarious at times…..
30 Days of Thanks- Day 2
“Climate is what we expect,
weather is what we get.”
Mark Twain
Today, November 2, 2015, I am thankful for the absolutely beautiful weather here in mid-Michigan. Trust me this time of year, the weather can provide a mix bag of tricks. But today, the temperatures were almost 70˚F. The beautiful sun was shining most of the day. The gentle breeze made the last of leaves softly float downward as if to greet me as I was walking around outdoors. I could not ask for a more gorgeous November day.
I hope everyone enjoyed their day!
Autumn–Day 1 Photo Challenge
The second November challenge I was asked to participate in is a photo of the day. Well, I was actually asked to participate in two of them. So, I am going to combine them and pick one from a list each day. I cannot do every challenge.
Day 1 – Autumn
I know I have mentioned this before but Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love the clear, crispness in the year and the last dash of color that Mother Nature has to offer, before the region is covered in snow.
First Day of Autumn
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Today, September 23, 2015 is the first official day of autumn. The Autumnal Equinox actually started around 4:20 this morning. Here in Michigan, I have been seeing the signs of the upcoming fall season for the last couple of weeks. I noticed over the weekend (I was photographing an outdoor wedding) that the sun was setting sooner. From my understanding, we are losing about 2-4 minutes of daylight a day. Just another sign from nature, the cooler months are about to be ushered in.
The leaves are starting to show their brilliant last burst of color as the reds and orange become more visible by the day.
I also love this time of year for the mushrooms. As I walk through the woods, the mushrooms are appearing throughout the paths and on the stumps. Mushrooms remind me of fairies. I could spend all day walking around day dreaming about fantasy worlds. I love to photograph the mushrooms and fungus, and then return to my computer to write. The smallest sprouts sticking up through the ground or along a log can have the biggest impact on my imagination.
The weather was actually perfect for the first official day of autumn. The sun was shining brightly all day with temperatures around 77˚F. The night has brought a clear crisper sky to view the moon and stars. I am hoping the clear skies will last; I want to be able to see the Supermoon this weekend.
I hope everyone had a great first day of autumn.
Until next time….peace
The Blanket of Winter Approaches
“All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien
The past week has been cooler which allows me to enjoy every bit of the outdoors. I am not much for hot humid days. I know I should not complain about the heat because winter will be here before I know it. I can already see the signs of the upcoming fall season.
- Leaves are beginning to turn a fainter green as they prepare for their burst of colors.
- The summer birds are becoming more scarce as they begin their long migration south to warmer areas. I rarely see Egrets or the Cranes at the old river. I miss the rattle voice of the Sandhill Crane on the river flats.
- The birds that are still here are gathering in great numbers. I see them flying above the tree tops. They seem to be going back and forth in a harmonic formation as if to gain strength to prepare for their upcoming journey.
- The days are slowly growing shorter as the frogs and crickets continue to sing their last praises of summer.
- The squirrels and chipmunks scurry across the dirt paths in the woods where I walk. I see them clutching acorns and walnuts to hoard for the long winter.
- The nights are cooler which provides a gentle breeze through open windows.
I love this time of year. I know warmer days are still in the forecast. But I am ready for September and October. The two months that seem to be speak to my heart as the blanket of winter approaches. Mother Nature always provides the settle hints that a new season will soon be issued in. Even though today is rainy, I plan to enjoy as much of the outdoors as I possible can during this transition of seasons.
Until next time….peace…
Dragonflies: Amazing Little Creatures
I love dragonflies. I could watch and photograph these fascinating little insects for hours. I recently sat in the field and just observed their behavior. I was working on some writing; I needed inspiration for flying fairies. The dragonflies always help me with my creative needs. As I watched them hovering, flying backwards and forward, and swooping all around me, I wrote with great wonder. I decided to do a little research on these flying beauties.
Interesting Facts about Dragonflies
As I glanced through the different fact, I found these to be the most interesting.
• Incredible Eyes: The dragonflies’ eyes have around 30,000 individual lenses or ommatidia which give them a rather incredible panoramic view of their surroundings. Each of those lenses provides an image. The brain of the dragonfly will use all of those individual images to make one picture. The eye allows for the entire color spectrum, UV light, and light polarization to be viewed.
• Wings: The dragonfly has two sets of wings; each wing can work independently. The extra set allows the dragonfly to slow the movement of the wings down. On an average, the dragon fly will flaps the two sets of wings around 30 beats per second. The independent movement of the wings gives the dragonfly the ability to hover and fly in all directions. The dragonfly also has the ability to change directions instantly which helps if been sought by a predator. And, can reach speeds of up to 36 mph.
• Food: A dragonfly eats mosquitoes and flies. I couldn’t figure out why I have seen so many dragonflies this year. Well, the wet weather created an overly abundant breeding ground for mosquitoes. The dragonflies have been enjoying a grand feast.
• Species: Currently there are around 5,000 species of dragonflies. All the dragonflies are part of the order Odanata which roughly translates to “toothed one”. The dragonfly can be found almost anywhere in the world where the environment is habitable. A dragonfly cannot live in the Antarctica; the little insects love a more tropical feel. The hot and humid weather here in mid-Michigan right now must seem like paradise to them.
• Ancient Creature: The dragonfly has been around for around 250 million years. The largest fossil reports the ancestor relative had a wingspan of around 2 ½ feet. Can you imagine that flying around the back field? Just amazing to consider.
The next time, you view a dragonfly consider how incredible this insect is or picture a fairy and let you imagination run wild.
Stormy Michigan
Michigan has been experiencing seasonal thunderstorms. I do not have the knowledge to state the proper terms. But basically, the weather is hot and very humid which when colder air pushes in creates the storms. I am lucky and grateful that none of these storms have caused any damage.
I have recently become fascinated with photographing clouds. Storm clouds are just another part of my new found curiosity. Believe it or not, the entire time I was out photographing the clouds, the rain held off. The clouds moved across the sky first. Then, the rain seem to follow behind. Absolutely fascinating.
And, yes….my mother called and left a message on my phone to “stop taking pictures and get in the house”. Some things will never change.
Until next time….peace always.
Flowers and More Flowers….
You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry.
And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.
This time of year, there are flowers blooming everywhere. The back fields are full of Queen’s Anne Lace. I love these flowers. But there over abundance appearance in the back fields signify summer is half over.
Rebecca's Vintage and Wildlife Photography 